Merged MISR and output register without performance impact for circuits under test

ABSTRACT

The output register of an array and the Multiple Input Signature Register (MISR) logic is implemented with one set of L 1 /L 2  master/slave latches and single additional slave latch. This new combined logic uses less critical area on a chip without a performance impact on the array access time or circuit testing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application contains subject matter that is related to the subject matter of the following co-pending applications, each of which is assigned to the same assignee as this application, International Business Machines Corporation of Armonk, N.Y., and is filed concurrently herewith. Each of the below listed applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference. High Speed Domino Bit Line Interface Early Read and Noise Suppression, Attorney Docket POU9 2004 0217; Global Bit Select Circuit With Dual Read and Write Bit Line Pairs, Attorney Docket POU9 2004 0214; Local Bit Select Circuit With Slow Read Recovery Scheme, Attorney Docket POU9 2004 0224; Global Bit Line Restore Timing Scheme and Circuit, Attorney Docket POU9 2004 1234; Local Bit Select With Suppression, Attorney Docket POU9 2004 0246.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an improved implementation of a Multiple Input Signature Register (MISR) for arrays employing a test scan output data register, and more particularly a combination of array output data register and MISR that reduces the number of wiring channels and overall use of critical chip area without impacting array performance.

2. Description of the Background

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, as the design of electronic integrated circuit chips has progressed, more and more circuitry is being disposed in increasingly dense patterns and it is becoming correspondingly more difficult to test such circuits. One methodology for performing chip test is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,902, assigned to the assignee of this application and incorporated herein by reference. This patent describes the basic features of level sensitive scan design (LSSD) systems for circuit test. A further aid to device and system testing is the method called self-test. A methodology for self-test in and LSSD environment is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,537 assigned to the assigned to the assignee of this application and incorporated herein by reference. Here, during test, the test scan outputs of shift register strings are fed to a so-called Multiple Input Signature Register (MISR). The signals fed to the MISR are compressed within the MISR to form a resultant or signature at the end of the test that can be compared with the expected or good signature for a pass/fail decision.

FIG. (1) shows a traditional combination of an array output register and an MISR. An array 12 has a plurality of inputs held in a series of L1/L2 input latches 14 and 16, only two of which are shown L10/L20 and L1N/L2N and a corresponding series of L1/L2 output latches 18 and 20 respectively, only two of which are shown, L10/L20 and L1N/L2N. The array 12 is, a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), but it will be appreciated that the principles of the invention are applicable generally to digital circuit arrays. The output of the array (ARRAY DATA) is one input to the master L1 latch 18. The other inputs to latch 18 are an array clock signal (ARRAY CLOCK), a scan in signal SCAN IN, and a scan in A clock SCAN A CLK. The output of latch 18 is fed to a listening MSIR register comprised of master (L1) latch 22 and slave (L2) latch 24 via an XOR gate 26 for signature capture in the MISR. The master/slave registers 22 and 24 can be scan initialized with the SCAN A clock and SCAN B clock respectively. The scan output of the master slave latch 18/20 is fed to the scan in of the master/slave latch 22/24. This implementation needs two sets of master/slave latches, the output L1/L2 latch 18/20 and the MISR L1/L2 latch 22/24, and the XOR gate 26. This logic at the output of the array requires a number of wiring channels requires the use of critical area on the chip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is the provision of an improved combination of array output data register and MISR that requires fewer wiring channels and less chip area than that of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved combination of array output data register and MISR without impact on the array or circuit under test.

Briefly, this invention contemplates a combination in which the output register of an array and the Multiple Input Signature Register (MISR) logic is implemented with one set of L1/L2 master/slave latches and single additional slave latch. This new combined logic uses less critical area on a chip without a performance impact on the array access time or circuit testing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The forgoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial block diagram and partial schematic diagram of a prior art implementation of array output latch register and an MISR.

FIG. 2 is a partial block diagram and partial schematic diagram of an array output latch register and an MISR combination in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be appreciated that inputs to the array 12 are the same as in FIG. 1 and that only the one “0” input is shown in detail, although each input “0” through “N” is the same. Similarly, each output combination of output latch register latch and MISR is the same for all outputs “0” through “N”, only the “0” output is shown in detail. In the specific embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the raw output of the array 12 is fed to a slave output L2 output register latch 30. In system operation this L2 output register latch 30 is clocked by the array 12 clock (ARRAY CLK) and the array data output (ARRAY DATA OUTPUT) is available at the output of register latch 30.

The array data output of the L2 slave register latch 30 is also fed to a non-scan (L4) slave register latch 32 through a XOR 34 gate in order to implement the MISR logic function. The output of the slave register latch 32 is coupled to the input of a master L1 register latch 38. When the MISR logic is ON, the combination of L4 register latch 34 and the master (L1) register latch 38 will capture the pass/fail signature for the MISR test. The L2 register latch 30 always contains the array output data. During MISR testing, the array data output is latched into the L4/L1 register latches 34 and 38 respectively by the capture clock (CAPTUE CLK) which is in phase with array clock. It will be appreciated that to scan initialize the output registers, there is only one master (L1)/slave (L2) register latch pair 38/30 in the scan patch.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described. 

1. A multi-input, multi-output array on a semiconductor chip comprising in combination: a combination of a scan responsive master-slave output register latch and a MISR coupled to each of a plurality of outputs of said array; said combination including a scan responsive slave register latch with an array data input and an array data output, said array data input coupled to an output of said array and said array data output coupled to one input of an exclusive OR gate whose other input is a MISR P-bit indicating a binary state of different combination; an output of said exclusive OR gate coupled to an input of a slave register latch whose output is coupled to an input of a scan responsive master register latch; and a scan output of said scan responsive master register latch coupled to a scan input of said scan responsive slave register latch.
 2. A multi-input, multi-output array on a semiconductor chip as in claim 1 wherein said scan responsive slave latch has a scan b clock input.
 3. A multi-input, multi-output array on a semiconductor chip as in claim 1 wherein said scan responsive mas2ter latch has a scan a clock input.
 4. A multi-input, multi-output array on a semiconductor chip as in claim 2 wherein said scan responsive master latch has a scan a clock input.
 5. A multi-input, multi-output array on a semiconductor chip as in claim 1 wherein said scan responsive slave latch has a capture clock input.
 6. A multi-input, multi-output array on a semiconductor chip as in claim 1 wherein said scan responsive master latch has a capture clock input.
 7. A multi-input, multi-output array on a semiconductor chip as in claim 1 wherein said scan responsive master latch has a capture clock input.
 8. A multi-input, multi-output array on a semiconductor chip as in claim 2 wherein said scan responsive slave latch has a capture clock input.
 9. A multi-input, multi-output array on a semiconductor chip as in claim 3 wherein said scan responsive master latch has a capture clock input.
 10. A multi-input, multi-output array on a semiconductor chip as in claim 1 wherein said scan responsive slave latch has a capture clock input.
 11. A multi-input, multi-output array on a semiconductor chip as in claim 1 further including a master-slave input register latch coupled to each of a plurality of inputs to said array.
 12. A multi-input, multi-output array on a semiconductor chip as in claim 1 wherein said array is an SRAM.
 13. A multi-input, multi-output array on a semiconductor chip as in claim 11 wherein said array is an SRAM.
 14. A method for latching an output of a multi-output array to provide a MISR test function, including the steps: transferring array data from said array to a first slave latch; transferring array data from said first slave latch via MISR bit exclusive OR function to a second slave latch and to a master latch; providing a scan input to said first slave latch from a scan output of said master latch.
 15. A method for latching an output of a multi-output array to provide a MISR test function as in claim 14 including the step of operating said first slave latch with a scan b clock signal.
 16. A method for latching an output of a multi-output array to provide a MISR test function as in claim 14 including the step of operating said first slave latch with a scan b clock signal and said master slave latch with a scan a clock signal.
 17. A method for latching an output of a multi-output array to provide a MISR test function as in claim 14 including the step of clocking said second slave latch and said master latch with alternate cycles of a capture clock.
 18. A method for latching an output of a multi-output array to provide a MISR test function as in claim 15 including the step of clocking said second slave latch and said master latch with alternate cycles of a capture clock.
 19. A method for latching an output of a multi-output array to provide a MISR test function as in claim 16 including the step of clocking said second slave latch and said master latch with alternate cycles of a capture clock. 